Filipinos in Switzerland raise P391k for typhoon Pablo victims

After speaking at the 43rd World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, President Aquino met with the Filipino communities in Switzerland and Lichtenstein, which pooled funds to help Filipinos victimized by typhoon Pablo

ZURICH—The Filipino expat community here gave President Aquino not just a warm welcome amid wintry weather. They pooled funds to help Filipinos victimized by typhoon Pablo (international name: Bopha) back home.

An initial check worth 8,650 Swiss francs was turned over to Aquino during his meeting with the Filipino communities here. The donation, however, was increased to 9,050 Swiss francs (about P391,000).

The President, who spoke before a crowd of about 500 Filipino-Swiss audience, lauded the members of various communities for pooling funds to donate to the victims of typhoon Pablo that ravaged Visayas and Mindanao last December.

“Lampas po doon sa halaga ng ipinagkaloob niyo sa ating mga kapatid na nabiktima ng Pablo, talaga naman pong napapadama niyo sa kanila na hindi sila nag-iisa. (More than the money you contributed, you’ve made them feel that they are not alone in this),” he said.

The President said that this donation would be a great present or “pasalubong” that he would bring home to the Philippines after being away for five days for this trip.

After attending the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, President Aquino met with the Filipino communities here in Switzerland and Lichtenstein before flying back home Saturday afternoon (Saturday evening in Manila).